<![CDATA[This study examines the phenomenon of Singkawang City, which is characterized by ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity yet has repeatedly been recognized as one of the most tolerant cities in Indonesia over the past five years. Singkawang is widely known as a Chinatown in Kalimantan and the “Hong Kong of Borneo,” labels that reflect the prominent presence of Chinese cultural and religious attributes throughout the city. Regional political leadership has also consistently been occupied by representatives of this migrant ethnic group since Singkawang was formally established as a city-level administrative authority in 2001. How does the dominance of the Chinese migrant population over indigenous groups such as the Malay and Dayak manifest itself in harmonious social cohesion, thereby making Singkawang a prototype for moderation-oriented initiatives in Indonesia? Through a qualitative-descriptive inquiry based on observation, interviews, and documentation, this study finds that social cohesion in Singkawang has emerged from a long history of intensive interethnic social interaction. Ethnic differences, which also entail cultural and religious diversity, are generally vulnerable to generating social tensions and conflict. In Singkawang, however, culture and religion have developed a strong relation, further reinforced by the structural support of government policy. This finding demonstrates that multidimensional diversity need not constitute an obstacle to social cohesion and may instead function as a catalyst for its formation.]]>
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